Ties to Chinese Leadership
A Beijing-connected climate organization led by former Chinese government officials Energy Foundation China (EFC) donated over $1.2 million to U.S. universities in 2024, nearly doubling its academic funding from the previous year, according to tax filings. The group, whose CEO Ji Zou previously served as a deputy director general at China's National Center for Climate Change Strategy, directed the majority of its contributions to Harvard University and the University of California system.
EFC allocated $678,750 to UC schools, with major grants to UC Berkeley and UC Davis earmarked for emissions reduction research. UC Berkeley manages the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a federally funded research hub. Harvard received $492,477 for climate engagement efforts, though it remains unclear if the funds supported the university's longstanding Harvard-China Project. Villanova University got $20,000, the smallest grant.
U.S. Lawmakers Scrutinize Funding
The spending reflects a broader strategy by EFC, which has channeled more than $15 million to U.S. universities and nonprofits since 2020 while spending $218 million on climate initiatives in China during the same period. Experts warn that increased U.S. reliance on Chinese-made green energy technology, such as solar panels and batteries, could weaken American energy independence, given China's near-monopoly on critical supply chains.
Republican lawmakers have intensified scrutiny of EFC's activities. In January 2024, House committee chairmen launched an investigation into the group's influence over U.S. energy policy. Months later, the House Ways and Means Committee requested an IRS review of EFC's tax-exempt status. Americans for Public Trust, an ethics watchdog, called EFC 'an influence operation of the Chinese Communist Party' in a statement to media.
EFC also funded U.S. climate advocacy groups in 2024, including a $550,000 grant to the International Council on Clean Transportation, which advocates for electric vehicle regulations. The group denied political motives in a statement, claiming its work focuses on 'climate-related efforts in China.' However, internal leadership ties to Beijing remain significant: board chairman Hongjun Zhang previously served as a legislative director for China's National People's Congress.